verb
dote
doht
verb
1
To show excessive love or fondness for someone, often overlooking their faults.
"Grandparents tend to dote on their grandchildren."
"He doted on his new puppy, buying it toys almost every week."
How to Use Dote
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo lavish someone with adoring, sometimes overindulgent, attention and affection.
Common mistake
Always used with "on" — you dote ON someone, not just "dote someone."
Common pairings
dote on
doting parent
doting grandmother
Word Forms
doted past tense, doted past tense, dotes plural, dotes plural, dotes singular, dotes singular
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Grandparents tend to _____ on their grandchildren.
Etymology
From Middle English doten, "to be foolish," related to Middle Dutch and Low German words meaning much the same.